Rare winter visitor

 Red-breasted Merganser female, pic courtesy Saurabh Sawant

Saurabh, Abhinav and I walked in a hurry in the hot afternoon sun. We were in Vasai, a suburb of Mumbai looking for a very unlikely feathered visitor. This bird is so rare that this is the official first record of its sighting in India. And we couldn’t wait to see her. The visitor we were so eagerly looking forward to was none other than the “Red-breasted Merganser”.

And what a place to see it!

Through the busy Vasai traffic we entered a quiet residential lane. The lane ended only to become a wide well laid out road. On either sides of the road, large faded bill boards advertised upcoming residential projects at bargain prices. The most ominous sign of all was a construction office, behind which excavators carried out half hearted work. The pace of the equipment was quite in contrast to the eager way the billboards claimed when the project  would be completed.

Lovely lily leaves carve a path in the channel

Even though it was mid-afternoon bird activity was still on. We saw a Shikra try to rouse some sleepy doves out of their afternoon stupor. Saurabh heard the unmistakable chweep of a Paddyfield Pipit as we crossed the scrubby grassland leading to the pools. The road carried on further inside, marking out large square marshy pools on either side. The initial pools had dried out and choked with grasses. In these we saw a big flock of Open-billed Storks, who took to wing as soon as we neared. No doubt the binoculars and cameras must have given them a scare even as locals in bright gaudy clothing walked past nonchalantly.

Painted Storks circled overhead as we searched for the Merganser

We continued birding as we searched for the Merganser. A number of Black-winged Stilts, Common Sandpipers, Terns, and Pond Herons were feeding in the shallow pool as Saurabh walked on ahead while Abhinav walked behind carrying a heavy camera and lens. That’s when I saw a dull coloured duck dabbling nonstop in the shallow pool. I called out to Saurabh to confirm if it was the Merganser and so it was.

The male Red-breasted Merganser has a deep rusty chest and hence the name, however the female is uniformly slaty grey, with a pale throat and chest merging with a darker neck. The slender scarlet orange beak is an easy way to distinguish it from other ducks and grebes.

The Merganser kept dabbling in the shallow pool with other birds for company

Though it’s a diving duck, these pools being too shallow for it, the Merganser seemed content just dabbling continuously. She was not very shy and kept on exploring the pool from one end to the other. We had a long and satisfying sighting before the evening approached and she suddenly disappeared after a short flight.

This sighting is at the same time heartening and dismaying. It’s an absolute joy to see such a vagrant in the middle of the city but it’s dismaying because one can see with their own eyes the unstoppable march of the city. Perhaps next year when the bird comes flying this way, instead of green marshy ponds, it may only see square grey buildings and nowhere to land.

And that is why it is imperative that birders continue birding and reporting common and uncommon sightings. We may not always stop the city in its tracks but we may surely try to slow down its march to claim everything in its path. Perhaps even now some hidden and overlooked pool somewhere holds rare feathered beauties waiting to be discovered.

Prey and Predator live side by side, seemingly in harmony

You can see the checklist of all the birds we sighted here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33159639

MBC Dombivali bird walk

Black-tailed Godwits - We saw quite a few of these feeding in the mud

Bird watching is an​ educative, healthy and ​fun way to spend time outdoors. It gives a sense of purpose while walking, hones your observational skills and gives a glimpse into nature. Mumbai Birdwatchers Club offers this and the bonhomie of other birders in its weekly bird trails in and around Mumbai. Last Sunday, 18th Dec, 30 birders armed with binoculars and cameras​ gathered at the crack of dawn at Kopar creek in Dombivali. The trail was led by local birders Kiran Kadam and Prathamesh Desai. Both of  whom have extensive experience in this area.

Birders doing what they love best

The area is close to a village and so large tracts are converted into a maidan where people play cricket and other games. Despite this, the area upto and including the creek has a variety of birds, both scrub land and water birds who due to this constant proximity to people are not as shy offering good sightings close.

Plain Prinia and Ashy Prinia were quite gregarious and gave ample photo opportunities

The Ashy Prinia can be easily differentiated from the Plain Prinia by its ash crown and nape

We started the trail in the scrubland where despite the noise and crowd, we saw​ an Oriental Skylark and a Paddyfield Pipit foraging near each other. Larks and Pipits are easily confused due to their similar plumage and colouration hence this was the perfect opportunity to see them side by side and ​

learn how to distinguish between the two. The lark has a slimmer body, longer tail and fine slender beak, whereas the pipi​t has​ a heavier body, very short tail and thicker beak. Also larks sport a crest on their head, unlike a pipit.

Peek-a-boo - An extremely well camouflaged Red-wattled Lapwing is nearly invisible in the grass. 

Painted storks kept circling overhead as we continued our walk near a marsh. Kiran set up a spotting scope to observe the waders feeding in the nutrient rich mud. We had a good look at Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Ringed Plover, Temminck's Stint and Little Stint. Both Kiran and Prathamesh helped the new birders in identifying the different waders.  Apart from waders we also saw Yellow, White and Citrine Wagtails and a lone Purple Swamphen rooting through the mud for worms and crustaceans.

​

Scaling new heights - Scaly-breasted Munia

In the grass along the rim of the marshy pool we saw many Scaly-breasted Munias, Common Silverbills, Plain and Ashy Prinias. We also had a glimpse of the normally shy and uncommon Yellow-eyed Babbler​.

​Shortly we observed ​Bluethroat and Long-tailed Shrike,​ two migratory birds and added these ​to our list at the marsh. It was unusual to see the Long-tailed Shrike looking for worms in the mud of the marsh​.

​While we were in the swampy scrub, the tide in the creek had ebbed we anticipated sighting more waders and other water birds.

All of us lined up at the jetty with binoculars and cameras, the muddy bank was barely a few feet away and so we had a good look at Black-tailed Godwits, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper from close quarters. While standing at the jetty we also saw a bit of drama on the opposite bank where a pair of handsome Ospreys were being​ mobbed by a flock of crows. As the Ospreys disappeared in the mangroves, we turned our attention to the Meswak bush on the right. These salt tolerant trees are a favourite of Sylvia warblers and we could see a  pair of Lesser Whitethroats foraging in the branches.

Pond Heron looking for a tasty morsel

The trail ended at the jetty as Prathamesh urged the birders to keep visiting the area. Despite the extensive human activity, this area has allowed many uncommon sightings in the past. Frequent visits by birders will help keep a record of these sightings and preserve it’s excellent bird activity.

Fly me to the moon - We intermittently saw Northern Pintail and Indian Spot-billed Ducks fly across the creek

The Dombivali bird walk checklist can be accessed here - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33071750

MBC walk to Karnala

Karnala fort - The pinnacle is a welcoming sign to birders.

 Winter is here in all its glory. And 40 birders joined in for yet another excellent birding day with Mumbai Birdwatchers Club on 27th Nov. This time the destination was Karnala bird sanctuary near Panvel. Karnala fort located within the sanctuary is a big draw for hikers in monsoon and winter. As one nears the sanctuary the thumb like pinnacle is a welcoming sign. The tiny hamlets and fields are taken over by the deep green of the forest as one travels along the Mumbai-Goa highway which divides the sanctuary in two.

After the usual introductions, the birders were split in two groups to be led by Saurabh Sawant, Amey Ketkar, Rujuta Phadke and Shashank Dalvi. The two trails, Mortakka and Hariyal, are popular amongst birders. The Mortakka trail is the shortest and easiest and has a winding circular path. Both groups were to bird on this trail but in opposite directions to avoid crowding.

In my past visits to Karnala I have observed the most number of birds just as one enters the sanctuary. And today was no different as we had a succession of sightings only a few meters from the main gate.

We started the walk with the sighting of a pair of Puff-throated Babblers skulking in the undergrowth. Usually these nondescript birds are difficult to spot as they remain hidden in the shadows and are more often heard than seen. Their call is easy to remember, it’s a very sweet rendition of “I will beat you”. The Puff-throated Babblers were quickly forgotten for views of a Brown-cheeked Fulvetta. This is yet another skulker but the lure of the early worm seemed to have brought it out in the open.

The air was full of bird song as the sunlight hit the trees. The yellow of the Black-hooded Oriole that we saw next was as bright as the golden sunlight. The mix deciduous forest of Karnala was sporting some yellowing Haldu trees as well. All along the trail we had excellent views of Ashy Drongos and Bronzed Drongos, quite a few of them flit amongst the trees drawing our attention with their antics.

Bronzed Drongo - Their smaller size compared to other drongos and glossy wings are an identifying feature.

White-naped Woodpecker female - One of the highlights of the trail.

However the day was dedicated to woodpeckers as we saw a Yellow-fronted, Brown-capped Pygmy and later along the trail a White-naped Woodpecker. The woodpeckers were observed gleaning for insects along the main trunk of the tree.

The leaf warblers, Green and Greenish, were also gleaning for insects. Unlike the woodpeckers they were seen searching for food in the leaves and smaller branches. Niche feeding like this reduces direct competition amongst birds which feed on the same tree.

Grey-fronted Green Pigeon - Though I prefer it's old name, "Pompadour Green Pigeon"

Soon we left the open trail and entered the forest, and saw a lone female Grey-fronted Green Pigeon. She sat atop a bare tree with her face towards the rising sun and sang sighingly. Endemic to the Western Ghats, the Grey-fronted Green Pigeon is usually seen in small flocks as they feed on fruits in the tree canopy. Another endemic bird which gave us excellent views were a pair of Thick-billed Flowerpeckers. The pair was quite gregarious, indicating that they were probably nesting nearby. So we quickly moved away to enjoy the sight of a Red-throated Flycatcher.

The heat had increased by now and we hoped to see some raptors taking advantage of  the thermals. But apart from a Crested-serpent Eagle, the raptors were the dip of the day.

Our most notable sightings for Karnala were the migratory Verditer and Ultramarine Flycatcher. Both species travel from Himalayas down south for the winter.

Karnala offers something to everyone, be it nature, history or adventure. However, this tiny sanctuary is threatened by unruly picnickers blind to it’s rich history. Earlier the forest department had initiated a deposit system against any plastic that one carried inside. But the large number of people visiting the sanctuary seems to have deterred the continuation of this practise. The recent news of widening the Goa-Mumbai highway passing through the sanctuary is also disheartening. Hopefully continued visits by MBC and other nature organisations will help put a light on the rich heritage of Karnala, that future generations may hear birdsong with as much joy as we did.

The old must fall for the new to rise.

MBC Bird walk at Bhuigaon

What a fantastic birding day! This was the thought in every birder's mind as the trail by Mumbai Birdwatchers Club ended at the Bhuigaon beach in Vasai. Around 40 passionate birders gathered to explore the hitherto unknown area of Bhuigaon. The mosaic of paddy fields, interspersed by wetland, scrub land, and seaside habitats gave us a superb variety of birds, and we all came back with a list of 75 bird sightings.

White Stork - an uncommon winter visitor

Mumbai Birdwatchers club has recently revived their activities. It’s aim is to offer a common platform to amateur birders to further their interests.The fourth birdwalk in this season was held at Bhuigaon in Vasai on Sunday, 20th Nov. Though not a very known trail, Bhuigaon is a popular birding destination for well known birders like Amol Lopes, Kuldeep Chaudhary, M. V. Bhakta, Sachin Marti and Varun Satose who reside in this area. The trail was led by senior and experienced birders like Saurabh Sawant, Rujuta Phadke, Varun Satose, Amol Lopes, Kuldeep Chaudhary, and M. V. Bhakta.

The weather was cool and pleasant when we started our walk, a welcome respite from the October heat. The approach road leading towards the seaside passed through Bhuigaon. It was lined by large opulent bungalows surrounded by small gardens. The gardens gave us views of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Purple-rumped Sunbird, and Pale-billed Flowerpecker trying to catch the early rays. The village suddenly gave way to paddy fields, interspersed by marshes and scrub land. Apart from the usual suspects like Red-wattled Lapwings, Common Sandpiper, the whole egret range, Great to Little, we also saw Little ringed and Kentish Plovers feeding in the nutrient rich mud.

A Striated Heron in flight brought our gaze back towards the skies, as we saw a gorgeous Black-shouldered Kite hovering in the distance. An Oriental Honey Buzzard was our next sighting. It showed off it’s unmistakable pigeon shaped head and tail markings as it was relentlessly chased by a murder of crows out for its life. Though both our sightings of Osprey were hazy and far, it was a satisfactory feeling to know they are well fed and that the fish are biting in this area.

It helped that our necks were craned towards the sky looking at an Oriental Skylark, when there was a sudden shout of “Falcon” from Saurabh. Lo and behold a handsome male Amur Falcon flew right over our head giving us a superb view of it’s pied underparts. As fast as it came, the falcon quickly disappeared from view. No doubt it was making it’s way across the ocean onward to its winter grounds in Africa. These tiny birds are one of the longest bird migrants in the world. They breed in the Amur river basin between Russia and China and undertake a journey of 22,000 Kms to their wintering grounds in Africa. They are passage migrants in India, which made this sighting very special as they are only seen for a short period of time during the beginning of winter.

Another notable sighting was of a Short-eared Owl as it circled overhead with a Marsh Harrier in tow. The sighting could be quickly confirmed as photographers produced pictures of this beauty in flight.

Short-eared Owl

The paddy fields produced for us Paddyfield Pipits, a trio chased each other merrily. Two Tree Pipits sat watching their antics from an electric wire. The sun was quite bright by now and the Tree Pipits were bathed in perfect light. This helped everyone observe the yellow wash and striations on their chest which distinguishes them from other pipits.

Tree Pipit showing off striations and yellow wash on chest

Siberian Stonechat, Booted and Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Long-tailed Shrike and an uncommon Red-headed Bunting confirmed that migration was well under way.

The rich countryside gave us ample sightings and we ended up spending nearly 2 hours covering a stretch of 2 kms. By now the sea was beckoning and by 9:30 a.m. we ended up on the a clean beach littered with Little Ringed, Greater and Lesser Sand, and Kentish Plovers, running helter skelter in the sands. Ruddy Turnstones, Terek and Curlew Sandpipers and a lone Sanderling were amongst our notable sightings by the grey Arabian sea.

We ended the day with a vote of thanks to all the participating birders. Some of the birders quickly headed over to the nearby saltpans for another uncommon sighting of White Stork, a widespread winter visitor to the Indian subcontinent. In the past there have been some very uncommon records from the Vasai area, like White-tailed Lapwing, Crab Plover, and very recently the White Stork. Local birders with their sustained efforts have come up with a list of 250 birds and a birding app “Vasai Birds”. It is vital that this region receives popularity as a birding destination. MBC hopes that their efforts to bring light to such unknown areas will help in their conservation as the city rapidly takes over the last bits of green and converts it to a dreary grey.

Terek Sandpiper with unmistakable orange legs and slightly upcurved beak

Skipping Diwali

Shadow Forest

Being chased by an elephant is not funny but perhaps as an afterthought, it is. I was in the heart of Pakke Tiger Reserve, a 800 sq. km. verdant forest situated on the border of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Out on an early bird watching sojourn, I wandered alone on the main trail or was I really alone?  Ahead on the trail I saw the Panchali camp elephant Rajah, having an early morning breakfast on the side of the road. I cut short my trail and turned back. To make up for lost distance I ventured just a few meters off the main trail and into the undergrowth to look for beauties like Niltava, Tesia and Puff throated babblers, who are usually only heard and not seen.

The sun rays still not at their strongest failed to pierce the shadows in the undergrowth. I stood alert for any sound or the slightest of movements while a Tesia and a Niltava gave me the briefest of looks and melted away. Behind me at the point where I entered the thicket suddenly materialised Rajah, deciding that the ginger leaves that he is partial to, are more succulent in only that part of the forest he stood there munching away merrily. Having heard many stories of Makhna’s (tusk less elephants) chomping on human heads and elephant tails alike, I was not particularly keen on knowing what a full grown tusker would do next.  I froze, the birds were forgotten and the thicket a minute before filled with bird song became unnaturally quiet and the only sound filling my ears was my heart beating at an insane rate. Rajah now decided that the cool of the undergrowth was far more appealing than the early morning sun, he turned his magnificent head with his beautiful ivory tusks and started to walk resolutely towards me. Perhaps he only wanted to say hello or maybe off with her head, I did not wait to find out and crashing through the undergrowth made my way to the main trail. On reaching the camp I found that Rajah has a penchant for not allowing people out of the camp and if left free to graze claimed the whole trail to himself, not allowing anyone to pass until his mahout got him out of the way. This mischievous streak in Rajah and other camp elephants is as charming as it is terrifying at the same time.

Pakke is full of such classic stories. The incident of how Manek, another camp elephant who had run away since 2 months was finally found and captured, lured with countless buckets of rice and salt licks and how the Mahouts fought amongst themselves as to who would first mount him so as to claim the Rs. 5000 award announced by the DFO and how all the Mahout's and their Jugali's (helper) and anyone remotely connected or not, trooped to claim the reward and then party is the stuff Gerald Durrell books are made of. Pakke is simply magical.

Plumbeous Water Redstart (Rhyaconis fuliginosus)

I stayed in Pakke for twelve days as a volunteer to help Nandini Velho, a PHd student from James Cook University, with another volunteer Binod Borah for company. Twelve days of sheer bliss, days spent walking, bird watching, talking to the forest watchers and enjoying wide open skies and beautiful landscapes. Gently undulating hills and mid-sized mountains form a major part of the Pakke landscape and add to it year round gurgling streams. Bauhinia trees in full bloom, birds calling from every bush and tree, bugs like fat bomber planes flying above the streams was an everyday scene. Barking deer’s announced my arrival into their territory with dog like barks, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard and Gaur signs in every available soft sand and muddy shore, Pakke is a wild lifers paradise.

Early morning in Pakke

The villages surrounding Pakke are home to indigenous tribes like the “Nyishi”, hunting is a part of their life and even today they are expert hunters and trackers and a great shot be it a gun or bow and arrow. Just a couple of years back Pakke was open hunting ground and logging was rampant. Hunting parties would catch anything they could get their hands on, as a result wildlife had depleted and the forest was empty of the calls of squirrel's and hornbill's and the barking deer.

A Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjak) peeking out through the undergrowth in the early morning sunlight.

So how is it that today the forest is well and alive with animals? To make it what it is today, has taken immense efforts on part of the FD mainly the current DFO Mr. Tana Tapi. He mobilised a band of forest watchers STPF (Special Tiger Protection Force) giving them shoot on sight orders for poachers. Though that may be the case, he has also like a headmaster correcting an errant child, literally caned a couple of the caught poachers and given them a choice, either work for the forest or else don't expect to be alive next time. Many of the poachers now work with the FD to protect the very forest where they earlier hunted.

Loving yet stern, approachable yet gruff but respected and loved by one and all, Tana Tapi and his band of raggedy ann soldiers, most of whom work on minimum wages, is what holds Pakke together. And the results are there for anyone to see. Malayan Giant Squirrel’s like giant rufous balls of fur, chatter away in the canopy while their cousins the Red bellied squirrels keep them company. Wreathed, Great and Oriental Hornbills announce their arrival with a loud whooshing sound of their wings. One dark night we heard a flying squirrel calling “Oh Aai”, a call our guide Koliya had heard again after 27 long years. We also got to hear the charming folk story behind the flying squirrels call.

Malayan Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolour)

River Heliodor (Rhinocypha sps.)

Stream Glory (Neurobasis chinensis)

River Lapwings gave voice to the gentle streams near Denai and DG camps. Crested Kingfisher’s, Plumbeous Water Redstart's, White wagtail's, glittering River Heliodor's and Stream Glories called home the stream near upper Dekorai camp. Butterflies and Elephants like wild party animals hogged all the best watering holes. Bird-wings and Paris Peacocks, Orange Oak Leaf and Dragon-tails, Fluffy tits and Lacewings all became active in the late afternoon sun. The quiet trails carved out by the beat guards were their favorite haunts, flying soundlessly they added motion to the quiet afternoons while still maintaining the sanctity.  Night came quickly and by 4:30 p.m. it was sundown with the shadows lengthening fast and by 6:00 p.m. it used to be pitch dark and the sky ablaze with a million stars like coins spread on a deep blue cloth. 

Paris Peacock Butterfly (Papilio paris)

Leopard Lacewing Butterfly (Cethosia cyane)

Mating Pair of Fluffy Tit Butterfly (Zeltus etolus)

Orange Oakleaf Butterfly (Kallima inachus) 

Late evenings were spent chatting with the forest watchers, as we sat around a blazing fire to combat the winter chill and share stories about the forest, stories about the various animals they encountered during their patrol and about their lives outside of the park. And in the process I heard the most hilarious of wildlife stories and I was amazed with how shy they were and yet how readily they became friendly and welcomed us into their fold, and to watch their easy camaraderie was a joy. Pakke will remain in my mind for a long time, my sunny place to be on dark days. Hope this place endures unscathed for many generations and they may experience firsthand the magic that is Pakke.

Enjoying a ride on the (over) friendly camp elephant, "Rajah"

To learn more about Pakke please visit http://www.pakketigerreserve.org/. You can also read more about Pakke and its unsung heroes at http://ebookbrowse.com/nandini-velho-battling-for-pakke-sanctuary-asia-tapi-pdf-d282901743

Pakke Bird List https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bz_4Df4HjKiMLS1jbEpEbVAzazA

More Pictures

One of the camps in Pakke Tiger Reserve

Seijousa Trail

View from Upper Dekorai

Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus)

Red-headed Trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus)

White wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Black-backed Forktail (Enicurus immaculatus)

Evening in Upper Dekorai

Nagla Block

All Pictures Courtesy Saurabh Sawant

In the midst of our burgeoning, cosmopolitan, chameleon like city like lies another city, an island within an island, Sanjay Gandhi National Park is one of a kind national park, unique in the fact that it is surrounded on all sides by an extremely populated city like Mumbai, which threatens any day to break its boundaries and spill over into this one last bastion for the voiceless. 

Today we saw the indifference in the heart of man for this park whose worth is beyond money and beauty beyond words. Saurabh Sawant  and I visited the Nagla Block on 15th, for an early morning trail. Reaching by 8:00 a.m. we began birding in the pale gold of early morning sunshine.  At the very start Nagla is quite dry, teak & dalbergia trees dominate the scene, teak's dry leathery leaves cover the forest floor in a carpet of brown and yellow. As you start walking in the flora changes, green peeks out from amongst the browns and the yellows. Also to add colour to the drab one can see a splattering of red in the form of “Kusum” trees. In their newfound glory these trees are a sight for sore eyes. Their bright red leaves against the blue sky will make any artist run for his money or his brushes.

The trail was alive with bird calls and just upon entering we had wonderful views of Common Iora, Chestnut-shouldered Petronia, Sunbirds etc. A few meters of walking inside we heard the most melodious of calls of a White-rumped Shama. A pair of these beautiful birds regaled us with their nimble flying and their fresh plumage. The male kept showing off his rufescent belly and his snow white rump with just a few downy feathers peeking out from under his tail. A Banded Bay Cuckoo calling from deep within signalled the onset of summer. 

                                Fire along the trail (Pic courtesy Saurabh Sawant)

Having enjoyed the Shama to our hearts content we walked further inside when we heard a snap of dry twigs being burnt on the right side of the trail. We thought it was perhaps a fire line, a controlled fire lit by the forest department to control the spread of a wildfire or forest fire. But there were no forest officials in sight and it dawned on us that this was a forest fire, spreading fast consuming the forest floor. Smoke and ash, the scene was disturbing and we felt utterly helpless with its magnitude. Finally we gathered our wits and first and foremost called up the forest department control room and notified them about the fire. We decided that it was up to us to do something to arrest the spreading fire. Gathering a couple of twigs we started to beat the fire and also removed dried leaves from the fires path so it would have less fuel to burn. Creating a fire line, working our way upwards for more than an hour, we managed to stop the fire from spreading further to the west. At the top of the steep slope we realised that the fire had already spread down the slope on the south side, the smoke billowing upwards showed us the extent of the fire.

We could only watch as the fire kept spreading further down on the south side, showing us that the elements of nature are beyond our control. Perhaps the fire had been raging since the earlier night; around half a kilometre patch of the forest in the east side was completely burnt, the blackened forest floor smoking with hidden embers. Maybe it was a carelessly flicked stub of cigarette or the embers of a bonfire or perhaps just nature’s way of regeneration, we may never know but to watch the fire eat up the forest floor was troubling. The  few people we saw collecting firewood walked by nonchalantly, this being a scene they might see every year and so it makes no impression on them for they know that the forest will regenerate, life goes on. By the time the season changes all traces of today will be washed off and life will endure, as it should. But will we?  

                                View from Vasai bridge (Pic courtesy Saurabh Sawant)

Note: We notified the forest department around 8:30 a.m. about the fire but by 11:30 a.m. when we moved out the park the forest department officials had still not managed to reach the scene. Probably when we left they approached it from the south at the base of the hill. If you ever come across a forest fire or any illegal activity taking place in the park please help the forest department respond on time by calling the Borivali control room on 02228866449